Baptist pastor who was married for 65 years comes out to his openly gay grandson at age 90... just five months before he dies

The story of Grant Rehnberg and his grandfather, Jim, reads like the screenplay for the 2010 film ‘Beginners’ about a terminally ill man who comes out as gay after 44 years of marriage.

Like the character of Christopher Plummer in the film, James Burton Rehnberg came out to his grandson after celebrating his 90th birthday – and just five months before his death.

The revelation has had a profound impact on Grant Rehnberg, who describes himself as a 'multimedia queer artist.'

Scroll down for video

Portrait in courage: Artist Grand Rehnberg is holding a drawing of his late grandfather as a young man, who passed away just five months after coming out as gay

Grant Rehnberg, who describes himself as a 'multimedia queer artist,' only recently got married to his boyfriend

Long life: James Burton Rehnberg died a month ago, not long after the passing of his wife

In an attempt to pay homage to his courageous grandfather and unpack his complex feelings towards the man who had led a double life filled with repression, the younger Mr Rehnberg decided to create a multifaceted art installation.

The artist, who is openly gay and newly married, uploaded a touching video on the fundraising site Indiegogo in an effort to raise money for his project.

James Rehnberg was a Baptist pastor, a Word War II veteran and a loving husband to his wife of 65 years, Doris.

Hero: James Rehnberg (left) fought in World War II, where he was involved in counter intelligence

Family man: More than 65 years ago, James married a woman named Doris

Special bond: The couple taught Sunday school together and remained married until Doris Rehnberg's passing

Man of faith: Mr Rehnberg, pictured here with his wife and two children, was a Baptist pastor

The elderly man shared with his grandson that the love of his life was a young man named Warren Johnson, whom he had met at church years earlier.

‘He told me God loves every part of us,’ Grant Rehnberg recalled. ‘He told me he would trade places with me if he could. He told me he loved me. ‘

During Grandpa Jim's funeral a month ago, Grant Rehnberg placed a photo of himself and his husband in his coat pocket and a red rose on his coffin.

Now, the Seattle-based multimedia artist is looking to memorialize his grandfather and pay tribute to his complicated life with an installation called The Family Connection.

Hidden love: When Mr Rehnberg came out as gay to his grandson, he revealed that the love of his life was his church friend Warren Johnson (right)

The project consists of two parts: a shrine made up of old photos, keepsakes and writings arranged around James Rehnberg's portrait, and a replica of his childhood home.

‘The house looks storm weathered, a crumbling symbol of Grandpa Jim’s formative childhood,’ Grant Rehnberg said. ‘Here, Jimmy, the baby of eleven siblings lived with his sternly religious mother, who once beat him for wearing his sister’s face powder. His brothers called him Mama’s boy and sissy.’

A third component of the art installation is a short film, which will be screened inside the recreated house, and which shows the artist dressed only in a jockstrap ripping up a Bible his grandfather gave him as a kindergartener.

Artistic tribute: Grant Rehnberg, who is a multimedia artist, plans to create a memorial for his late grandfather, which would consist in part of a shrine made up of his grandpa's photos and mementos

Childhood home: A second part of the memorial will be a replica of the house where James Rehnberg grew up with his 10 brothers ans sisters

Cathartic: As part of the installation, Grant shot a short video showing him ripping apart a Bible that his grandfather gave him when he was a boy

Grant Rehnberg was looking to raise $950 towards The Family Connection project – so named after his grandparents' Sunday school curriculum - but he has already collected nearly $2,500 in donations.